This study compares the cost of operating the auxiliary components of an optimised standalone hot water fired absorption chiller, using mains grid electricity and an optimised standalone photovoltaic system. The cheaper source was further compared with using mains electricity to operate a conventional reverse cycle air-air heat pump.

The rising penetration of vapor compression air conditioning systems in Australian dwellings has raised the peak power demand. Consequently, the electrical infrastructure requires significant, costly upgrades that is invariably passed on to all end-users.

To combat increasing electricity prices due to the high operating costs of conventional reverse cycle air-airheat pumps (RC-AA-HP), they can be powered by standalone PV systems as a radical demand side energy management solution. However, the heavy power consumption of their compressors necessitates very large and expensive standalone hotovoltaic (PV) systems.

The rapid adoption of reverse-cycle vapour-compression air-conditioning systems in residential buildings has produced an escalation in both total and peak electricity demand, necessitating a high level of investment in electricity infrastructure, and raising concerns over energy security and environmental issues.

Deploying standalone solar air-conditioning systems in residential buildings forms a radical demand-side energy management solution for eliminating the peak electricity demand from residential air-conditioning. For existing grids to meet this demand a correspondingly major investment is required to extend the capacity of the infrastructure.